DUP in bid to secure concessions from London

THE Democratic Unionist Party moved to force last-minute concessions from London last night as the Northern power-sharing crisis reached its endgame.

Freshly re-installed First Minister Peter Robinson tried to hold his fractious party together by seeking new financial “sweeteners” from Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward in order to sign-off on a deal on devolution with Sinn Féin.

Almost two weeks of round-the-clock negotiations between Sinn Féin, the DUP and the two governments ended yesterday when Republicans said it was decision time.